Today it is difficult to imagine your life without wireless Internet, or, as it is called in colloquial slang, “Wi-Fi” (Wi-Fi). Special routers are responsible for the possibility of its functioning. When choosing them, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

• RAM and processor. It is optimal if the model has at least 32 MB of RAM and a computer frequency of 240 MHz or more. This will allow the router to work without slowdowns and always provide sufficient access speed.
• Operating modes and connected interfaces. These characteristics determine the purpose of the router. Most devices provide for installing an access point, creating a bridge, repeater or client - these modes allow you to connect a router and make it a source of Wi-Fi signal.
• Signal frequency. In most cases, this is 2.4 GHz, but due to the widespread use of these devices in homes, almost all subchannels are occupied, which negatively affects the stability and speed. It is better to choose a dual-band model, where the second channel emits a signal at a frequency of 5 GHz.
• A security protocol that encrypts data and prevents third parties from connecting to Wi-Fi. Most devices support WPA and WPA2 - these are the most reliable protocols.
• Antenna power, which is measured in dBi. The higher this parameter, the greater the range of action the device has. For your home, it is advisable to choose routers with a strong signal.
• Supported protocols. The most common is IPv4, which has an IP address length of 32 bits. But some models are already equipped with TCP IPv6 - the most advanced data transfer protocol.
• Availability of up-to-date software on the official website. It is not a fact that when sold, the router will have the latest firmware installed; however, the existing software may contain errors that prevent the normal operation of the device.

Our rating presents some of the best Wi-Fi routers that can be bought in online stores. All models were selected taking into account the above characteristics and parameters. In addition, the selection of devices was carried out taking into account:

1. Customer reviews
2. Cost of the device (price-quality ratio)
3. Expert opinions

The best inexpensive Wi-Fi routers for home: budget up to 1,500 rubles.

4 Tenda N301

Best price
Country: China
Average price: 878 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.6

Let's start with the most budget Wi-Fi router. The average price tag for this miniature miracle is only 890 rubles. For this money, the user receives a nice, high-quality snow-white case with two antennas with a power of 5 dBi each. It doesn’t take up much space – the case dimensions are 127x90x26 mm. But there are no slots for wall mounting - this is a minus.

The insides are not amazing. The cable speed reaches 100 Mbit/s. Connect viaLAN can be up to three devices. Wireless Internet complies with the standard WiFi 802.11 n with theoretical speeds up to 300 Mbit/s. In reality, judging by the reviews, the speed reaches 70-75 Mbit/s.

Let us separately note the software part. First of all, I am pleased with the ease of setup - as they say, even a housewife can handle it. Among the interesting things: there is the possibility of remote administration, backup of settings, restricting access by MAC and URL, speed limits.Of course, small problems occur, but they can be easily solved by installing more recent firmware from the official website - the process will not cause difficulties even for beginners.

3 TP-LINK TL-MR3020

Budget router with 3G/4G LTE support
Country: China
Average price: RUB 1,412.
Rating (2019): 4.7

At first glance, the TL-MR3020 is an extremely simple device. Just one LAN port, USB 2.0, miniUSB for power, a couple of switches and indicators. The characteristics also lack the stars from the sky: the Wi-Fi 802.11n standard, which will be enough for tariff plans with a speed of 100 Mbit/s, but no more. But the ability to install third-party firmware and provide mobile Internet distribution makes this router very versatile. See what use cases users shared in their reviews:

1) A regular router for a home or apartment

2) Backup Internet source (mobile) in case the main provider is disconnected

3) Access point while hiking - the device can be powered by a simple power bank!

4) Internet in the car: connect it to the cigarette lighter, hide the router in the glove compartment, and you can share the Internet with all passengers

And this is just a small list. Installation of OpenWRT firmware, a USB hub and user curiosity allow you to use the router in a huge number of situations.

2 MikroTik hAP lite

Great software capabilities. Router OS
Country: Latvia
Average price: 1,360 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.6

The second line of the rating is occupied by a model from a little-known company called MikroTik. First of all, hAP ​​lite stands out for its unusual appearance. This is a compact blue and white box with stylish ventilation slots. But what attracts more attention is the absence of external antennas - here they are internal, in the amount of two. The power is low - only 1.5 dBi, but it will be enough for a small apartment. On the other hand, this allows you to place the device almost anywhere. It is also worth considering that the silver medalist in the rating is capable of delivering speeds of only about 150 Mbit/s.

There are also several unique features. First, use Router OS. This system has simply incredible capabilities that even much more expensive devices cannot provide to the user. Seamless transition between several access points, bridge mode, VPN, tunnels - all this and much more can be found in the router settings. Secondly, hAP ​​lite supports connection to several providers at once. The WAN port can be any of the four located on the case.

1 TP-LINK TL-WR841N

Optimal balance of cost, functionality and simplicity
Country: China
Average price: 1,290 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8

The first place in the ranking of the best budget Wi-Fi routers for the home is occupied by TP-LINK TL-WR841N. The device can be used as an access point and simultaneously distribute a signal to 6 receivers. Among all inexpensive routers, it has the highest potential operating speed - 300 Mbit/s. The router is equipped with a modern WPA2 data encryption system, which ensures high reliability of transmitted data. The model supports PPTP, L2TP and IPSec tunnel protocols, which are the most common among most providers.

The advantages of this router in user reviews include low cost, ease of setup and a good stable signal. The latter is achieved thanks to two antennas operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency range. The transmitter power is 20 dBM, which allows the signal to “pierce” even the thick walls of an apartment. Weaknesses include poor case material and a low-quality power adapter, which makes unnecessary sounds during operation.

The best Wi-Fi routers in the mid-price segment: budget up to 7,000 rubles.

3 ASUS RT-N66U

Popular Wi-Fi router. Speed ​​up to 900 Mbps
Country: Taiwan (China)
Average price: 6,105 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.7

The high-speed model ASUS RT-N66U is in third place in the ranking of the best Wi-Fi routers for the home in the middle price segment. This model is more expensive than its TOP neighbors, but its functionality fully justifies the cost. The device has as many as 3 antennas, and emits a signal in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, which can significantly improve the quality of communication and use it over large areas. The router includes 4 switch ports, so you can connect 3 devices to it and organize their operation using wired Internet.

In numerous positive reviews, customers talk about fast operation, ease of setup and excellent synchronization with USB modems. Moreover, this model provides data transfer of up to 900 Mbit/s simultaneously, which allows it to be used to “distribute” Wi-Fi to several devices at once. If necessary, this router is capable of downloading files without using a computer. Among the disadvantages are strong heating during operation and problems with some firmware versions.

2 TP-LINK Archer C7

Best wireless speed
Country: China
Average price: 6,650 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.7

The second line of the rating is occupied by the already respected Archer C7. Externally, the model is distinguished by the presence of three antennas with a power of 5 dBi each and an impractical glossy surface. It looks good - there’s no shame in leaving the router in a visible place. The set of ports is standard for this class: power supply, a pair of USB for connecting a printer or external drive, and five Ethernet ports.

The router is dual-band – 2.4/5 GHz. The maximum speed “over the air”, as stated by the manufacturer, is 1750 Mbit/s. The indicator is rather theoretical, because the providers present on our market are unlikely to be able to provide such speed. This will only be useful when creating a home local network. Among the pleasant features, it is worth noting the ability to work in two bands at once, support for LTE modems, file server, guest service, firewall and much more.

1 MikroTik RB951G-2HnD

The most reliable Wi-Fi router
Country: Latvia
Average price: 4,650 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8

In first place in the ranking of the best Wi-Fi routers in the mid-price category is the MikroTik RB951G-2HnD model. This device is a strong average in terms of reliability, performance and cost. It is used as an access point and can simultaneously “distribute” wireless Internet to 5 devices. Provides a maximum speed of up to 300 Mbps. As a nice addition, the router has MIMO support, which allows it to transmit data over several independent channels at once. A bridge mode is provided to connect wired networks to wireless ones.

In reviews, buyers talk about high-quality assembly, smooth operation and wide customization options as the strengths of the model. At the same time, the router boasts 128 MB of RAM. Thanks to Telnet support, remote management of the device and its settings is possible. The transmitter power is 30 dBM, and the internal antenna amplifies 2.5 dBi, which has a positive effect on the range. The disadvantages of this model are the difficulty of playing 4G networks and incompatibility with some USB hubs.

The best Wi-Fi routers in the premium segment: budget from 8,000 rubles.

3 HUAWEI B525

LTE support
Country: China
Average price: 8650 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.7

The third line is occupied by a router with a somewhat non-standard design. B525 is designed for vertical installation. The front panel is made in black and gold colors, Wi-Fi antennas are built-in. The set of connectors is standard, with the exception of two SMA ports for connecting external 3G/4G LTE antennas. There is also a slot for a SIM card. Signal reception is more than reliable. In reviews, users claim that the router “sees 3 bars” where the smartphone does not find the network at all. The speeds are accordingly excellent.

You can distribute mobile or cable Internet through three gigabit LAN ports or dual-band Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, simultaneous operation at frequencies of 2.4 and 5 GHz is not announced. The theoretical speed of the wireless network can reach 1300 Mbps.

The B525 can also be used as a home file server: connect an external hard drive and you can make backups or send movies to your TV.

2 Keenetic Giga (KN-1010)

Wide range of customization and modification options
Country: Taiwan
Average price: 8,190 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8

Keenetic network equipment is little known to the general public, but is popular among enthusiasts. The Giga model is not the top one, but its capabilities are enough for even the most demanding users. The case is not only cute, but also functional. On the rear edge there are 4 Gigabit LAN ports, one WAN and SFP for connecting via fiber optic cable. Very few competitors can offer the latter. On the side there are USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. The distance between them is large, which allows you to freely use even bulky mobile Internet modems. There are also two physical buttons, each of which can be configured with up to three functions.

The router supports the 802.11ac standard and can operate simultaneously in two bands. The maximum theoretical speed reaches 1267 Mbit/s. Real tests showed results of about 600 Mbit/s, which is sufficient for the vast majority of users.

Thanks to the range of ports and excellent software, the router can be used in a wide variety of scenarios.

1 ASUS RT-AC88U

3167 Mbit/s
Country: Taiwan (China)
Average price: RUB 18,568.
Rating (2019): 4.8

The leader in the rating of the best Wi-Fi routers in the premium segment is the ASUS RT-AC88U model. The main feature of this device is the ability to ensure simultaneous operation of several dozen devices, thanks to a maximum data transfer rate of up to 3167 Mbit/s. Wide coverage and good signal level are provided by four antennas operating in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency ranges.

The strengths of the device in reviews from buyers note its fast operation, pleasant appearance and intuitive Web interface. In addition, the model has 512 MB of RAM, which allows it to quickly process data from different receivers. The router is equipped with one USB port version 2.0 and one version 3.0, which allows you to connect third-party devices to it. The disadvantages include insufficiently developed software and an average signal level at a frequency of 5 GHz.

The best mobile (pocket) Wi-Fi routers

3 Huawei E8372

Connection via USB port. The most compact Wi-Fi router
Country: China
Average price: RUB 2,843.
Rating (2019): 4.4

The portable model Huawei E8372 takes third place in the ranking of the best mobile Wi-Fi routers. This device, with its fairly small dimensions, can provide full Internet access to any smartphone or computer. The device is powered from any USB port. With the help of Huawei E8372 you can organize effective LTE Internet in your car, apartment or house. The router operates in the 2.4 GHz band, which allows you to use its wireless network over an area of ​​up to 50 square meters. The device has built-in support for 3G and LTE, meaning access can be achieved using a SIM card.

Among the strengths of the device in reviews, users note operation without connecting to a computer (via a USB cable), reliable connection retention and lack of lag. The device has a slot for microSD memory cards and two connectors for external antennas, which can potentially significantly increase the range of the router. Among the weaknesses of this model are uninformative instructions and poor case materials.

Video review

2 Alcatel Link Zone

The most budget standalone router
Country: USA-France
Average price: RUB 3,291
Rating (2019): 4.7

The next device is more versatile and autonomous than the previous one. Inside the compact and pleasant-to-touch case there is an 1800 mAh battery, which provides 7 hours of active Internet distribution and about 35 hours of standby time. The battery compartment also contains slots for SIM and SD (up to 32 GB) cards and a pair of connectors for connecting external antennas. I'm glad that a dead battery won't be a reason to stop surfing the Internet - just connect the included charger to the MicroUSB connector and continue using the device.

Wireless Internet standards are not the most modern - only 802.11n. In practice, users experience speeds of up to 70-80 Mbit/s. Not all providers can boast of such results even over cable! The signal level is also good: it will even penetrate a couple of solid walls. The only drawback is the ill-conceived mobile application. But the problem is solved by software, which means there is hope for a quick correction of the shortcomings.

1 TP-LINK M7350

Best functionality
Country: China
Average price: 4745 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8

The leader of the rating is the most expensive and functional device in the category. The appearance is simple: a parallelepiped with rounded corners and a combination of matte and glossy plastic. The only detail that catches the eye is the 1.4’ TFT display, which displays information about the operator, signal level, transmission speed, etc. The screen also allows for basic setup. For more advanced settings you will have to go to the web interface. In most cases, you only need to change the name of the wireless network - the router will do the rest itself, you just need to install a SIM card.

Like the previous participant, the M7350 has a removable battery. The capacity is noticeably higher – 2550 mAh. There is a slot for a Micro SDHC card up to 32 GB. Thanks to support for the SMB and FTP protocols, any connected device can use files from a flash drive. This solution can be useful, for example, when traveling with the whole family - everyone can take photos and videos and upload them for public access.

The best Wi-Fi routers with built-in file storage

1 Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router HD

Router with built-in 1 TB hard drive
Country: China
Average price: RUB 14,440.
Rating (2019): 4.8

The only representative of the final category is a device from the popular Chinese company Xiaomi. Of course, the Mi Router HD has competitors, but they are sold in single copies at exorbitant prices, and therefore we cannot recommend them for purchase.

The design of the router is consistent with other Xiaomi products - a minimalist metal body with four antennas looks harmonious in almost any interior. This is important, because such a large “box” (195x146x96mm) is difficult to hide from view. Inside is a fairly powerful Qualcomm processor, 512 MB of RAM and, most importantly, a 1 TB hard drive. On the back cover there are 3 LAN and 1 WAN ports, as well as USB. Wireless Internet complies with the 802.11ac standard and can operate in two bands at once: 2.4 and 5 GHz, there is support for MIMO. Maximum speed “over the air” is up to 2533 Mbit/s.

Thanks to the built-in HDD, the router can be used not only for its intended purpose, but also as a file storage for convenient backup from all home devices, storing movies for later playback on a TV, downloading torrents without a PC, and much more. The only drawback is that you will have to be patient and time to set everything up correctly.

Which will provide a good signal, and not overpay for unnecessary features? We are interested in whether there is a difference between devices that differ significantly in price.

The power of a router depends not only on the number of antennas

Let's find out how to choose a device for an apartment or cottage, which of the routers on the market are the most powerful. In addition, it is advisable to consider several price categories so that you can choose a modem at the optimal price and appropriate quality.

• The antenna and coverage radius are perhaps the most important parameters for any device that provides wireless communication with the World Wide Web.

Antennas come in two types - built-in and external. In most cases, external antennas provide a better signal and therefore greater coverage within the home. A significant advantage will be the ability to change the antenna or add a few additional parts to increase the signal coverage area - this is especially true for apartments with a large number of rooms and country houses.

• Wi-Fi standards and router speed - it is advisable that the modem supports the 802.11n standard, and for high Internet speeds you need to choose a device with a similar or higher speed than what your provider provides.

• Brand - priority will be to choose a router from a well-known developer. Why shouldn't you buy a “no-name” router? Its operation is more likely to have problems, it may freeze, or the connection will be unstable. Another important point is that it is easier to update the firmware on devices from popular brands, which is regularly improved and released for each individual model. The new firmware makes the router’s operation high-quality and uninterrupted, and protects against malfunctions.

Rating of the most powerful Wi-Fi routers

Not everyone can afford the most expensive Wi-Fi modem with many functions and powerful hardware, but in different price categories there are remarkable models that differ from other routers in quality, fast operation and fully justify their cost.

Affordable, good quality routers

• TP-LINK TL-WR740N is a simple but powerful model with excellent functionality: speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s are quite enough for active home Internet use, the device supports the most popular data transfer protocols - PPPoE, dynamic and static IP. It has a built-in network filter to protect against viruses and attacks; an external antenna is provided for signal distribution, which will provide a large coverage area.

• TP-Link TL-WR841ND- another excellent router of this brand, it has two removable antennas, the range of which is 270 m. The device supports Internet speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s, there are 4 LAN ports for connecting other computers and creating a local home network.

• Zyxel Keenetic- 3G Internet function is provided, the device has an additional USB connector. It has 2 removable antennas. Using the router you can use interactive IPTV television.

Powerful mid-price routers

• Zyxel Keenetic Giga 2- costs about 3.5-4 thousand rubles, supports speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s, has gigabit Ethernet ports and 2 USB ports. It has a powerful processor and 2 removable antennas that can easily provide good Wi-Fi signal coverage in your home.

• Asus RT-N56U- although this router has built-in antennas, this is not reflected in the signal quality. The router operates in 2 frequency bands - the standard 2.4 and the more powerful 5 GHz. It supports all current communication protocols, has an IPTV function, and several users can use high-speed 3G Internet at the same time. The average price of the device is about 4.5 thousand rubles.

• Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi mini- this model is attractive not only internally, but also externally - there is a large selection of color options for the router, which will appeal to those who love bright colors. The internal content is represented by two frequency ranges 2.4 and 5 GHz, each of which has a separate external antenna. Thanks to the 802.11n protocol, the router can operate at very high speeds - up to 1167 Mbps. The price fluctuates around 3.3 thousand rubles.

The most powerful routers costing from 5 thousand rubles

• Asus RT-N66U- the model will cost you about 7 thousand rubles, but will fully justify its cost. It has three removable powerful antennas that will provide good coverage of the entire area of ​​the house. As is customary in impeccable devices, it has two frequency ranges and reaches connection speeds of up to 900 Mbit/sec. It has a rich filling, many functions, including the ability to create a separate guest network, parental controls, traffic manager and others. This is a truly powerful router, and also attractive and practical in appearance; Unlike many devices, this router has a matte finish.

• Asus RT-AC87U- the top router for the home among all products of this brand and similar devices from other developers, it costs about 15 thousand rubles, but it can be confidently called the most powerful Wi-Fi router for the home. Judge for yourself - four removable antennas are capable of creating a coverage area of ​​up to 465 square meters. m. Moreover, it has a record maximum Internet connection transmission speed - up to 2334 Mbit/s. Inside the stylish case, which will not leave anyone indifferent, there is a 2-core processor - it will ensure stable and fast operation of the device. It’s not even worth mentioning several frequency ranges, protocol support and the presence of a USB port - the router has everything to rightfully be considered the best among other existing models.

Depending on the price and your needs, thanks to this rating you can choose a router that will provide a high-quality Internet connection via Wi-Fi wireless technology. All of the above models will allow you to create a large signal coverage area that will cover the entire area of ​​your apartment, house or cottage.

Which Wi-Fi router to choose in 2016? We have compiled a rating the best Wi-Fi routers for home at the end of 2016 based on evaluative customer reviews on the largest online trading platforms. We have selected the Top 10 best and most popular models of wireless routers, and also identified the best router manufacturers based on the results of an open vote among site visitors.

A Wi-Fi router is the central link of a home network; the speed and uninterrupted transmission of data depends on the quality of its operation. What types of Wi-Fi routers are there, and what characteristics should you pay attention to when purchasing?

Supported Wi-Fi wireless standards come in several varieties. Today there are two main standards: 802.11n and 802.11ac. Most modern inexpensive routers support the 802.11n standard; the data transfer speed of such devices is limited to 450 Mbit/s (the real figure is closer to 150–200 Mbit/s). In January 2014, the 802.11ac increased bandwidth standard, also known as Wireless AC, was introduced. Routers that support the 802.11ac standard are capable of providing higher performance - theoretically, the maximum data transfer speed is limited to a record 7 Gbit/s, but in practice this value is unattainable, and it is unlikely that you will have to be content with more than 2-2.5 Gbit/s. Today, 802.11ac is an established Wi-Fi standard. All devices that support the 802.11ac standard are also compatible with the 802.11n standard.

Dual-band routers have the ability to operate in two frequency bands simultaneously and allow you to create two Wi-Fi networks: at a frequency of 2.4 GHz and at a frequency of 5 GHz. This allows you to distribute the load. In addition, in some places (for example, apartment buildings), the 2.4 GHz band may be oversaturated due to the large number of Wi-Fi networks, this negatively affects the data transfer speed, in such conditions it is better to choose a Wi-Fi router that can work at a frequency of 5 GHz.

The speed of the router ports can be 100 Mbit (Ethernet) or 1000 Mbit (Gigabit Ethernet). If you just want to distribute the Internet at home, then regular Ethernet ports will be more than enough, since the connection speed of most providers is usually less than 100 Mbit/s.

Rating of the best Wi-Fi routers for home 2016

We chose TOP 10 best Wi-Fi routers for home 2016 based on evaluative customer reviews on the largest trading platforms and online stores. For each router, an “average rating” was calculated - the average score on a 100-point system. Wi-Fi routers are ordered by popularity; sort the table “by rating” to find out the best Wi-Fi routers according to user ratings.

Let's look at the best Wi-Fi routers based on their overall rating. These models, according to buyers, offer the best value for money:

1st place - (rating 80.3)

The best Wi-Fi router for home according to customer ratings

Wi-Fi standard: 802.11n, 2.4 GHz | Max. speed: 300 Mbps | Port speed: 1000 Mbit/s

A classic model of a Wi-Fi router that has earned very high customer ratings due to its stable operation and ease of use. The total rating of the device was 80.3 points based on 126 reviews. ZyXEL Keenetic Viva- single-band router (2.4 GHz frequency) with gigabit ports and the ability to connect an optional 4G modem. An excellent choice for those who need a reliable Wi-Fi router with a convenient and intuitive software interface and good functionality at a low cost.

2nd place - (rating 78.1)

Best high speed Wi-Fi router 2016

Wi-Fi standard: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz | Max. speed: 1900 Mbps | Port speed: 1000 Mbit/s

High-speed router with support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac and the ability to simultaneously operate in two bands: at a frequency of 2.4 GHz and at a frequency of 5 GHz. It has five Gigabit Ethernet ports for wired connections and two USB ports, one of which is USB 3.0. The average model score was 78.7 points(based on 185 customer reviews). Among the minuses, we note a large number of user complaints about the native firmware due to periodic malfunctions and disconnections; the problem is solved by updating to firmware from Merlin or Tomato.

3rd place - (rating 78.7)

The best combination of price, quality and design

Wi-Fi standard: 802.11n, 2.4 GHz | Max. speed: 300 Mbps | Port speed: 100 Mbit/s

This inexpensive Wi-Fi router will decorate your home. The router is equipped with a USB port for connecting a 3G/4G modem, printer or external drive. The device is equipped with a built-in firewall and a button for quickly turning on/off the Wi-Fi network (while devices connected to the router’s LAN ports will remain on the network). The router has 100Mbps LAN ports and lacks support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac, but given the price, these cannot be called disadvantages. The average model rating based on 34 customer reviews was 78.1 points.

The best router manufacturers

Which company's Wi-Fi routers are better? We held an open vote, in which any site visitor could vote for or against any brand. More than one vote so far 5 thousand people. The top 10 brands with the most votes are presented below:

You can always get acquainted with the voting results in more detail, as well as cast your own vote at. There you will also find comparative reviews of Wi-Fi routers.

Is there a gridlock in your home, with all those network-connected devices—from smartphones and tablets to laptops and media streamers—fighting to share your wireless network? A marketing study conducted by IDC found that, on average, there are more than eight network-connected devices in a single home. Routers that support the latest wireless standard, called 802.11ac, help solve these problems by giving you more than four times the throughput of an 802.11n device. Plus, by using a more efficient data processing process, the latest routers can help you conserve the battery life of your mobile devices. But not all 802.11ac routers are created equal.

Comparison of the throughput of Wi-Fi routers from a distance of 1.5 meters

Based on our in-depth research and reviews of more than 15 routers, we've found the Asus RT-AC68U ($171) to be a better choice overall (and also a better choice if you want to download large volume of music and films). And all this thanks to its pace-setting throughput. But if you're on a budget, you should also consider Netgear's R6220 ($60), which offers nice features like parental controls along with reliable performance at a reasonable price.

Our list of favorites includes recommendations for those who play games and those who need maximum range for a large home. If there is a router you would like us to review, or if you have any questions about which router to buy, just leave us a message in the comments.

How we assessed it.
We tested all routers in our own office using the IxChariot tool to measure throughput over distances ranging from 1.5 to 42.5 meters. We then evaluated their performance in a real-life environment, in an older home with thick walls, to test both the range and how the routers handled the simultaneous flow of information from multiple devices. Other factors we used in our evaluation include ease of installation and use, software features, and available connection ports.

Here are our favorites among the best Wi-Fi routers, which we've divided into several categories.

Asus RT-AC68U

$200.00

Best router overall.

Our favorite 802.11ac router, the Asus RT-AC68U, gave the best performance, whether from 1.5 or 42.5 meters. This router's checkered textured front panel makes it more attractive than your standard black router, and it comes in two color options - black or white. There's a USB 3.0 port and a USB 2.0 port, and the latter can be used with a 3G/4G dongle. In addition, Asus's AiCloud cloud technology makes remote access to network drives possible. Overall, this is a great investment to supercharge your home's network.
What the owners say: 46% of user reviews about the RT-AC68U router on the Yandex-Market website have a five-star rating. At the same time, users praise its ease of installation, stable connections and impressive range.

Netgear R6220

$80.00

The best router under $100.

You get a surprising amount of features from Netgear's R6220 router without a corresponding jump in price. This budget router comes with a USB 2.0 port for peripherals, a switch to turn off wireless sharing when you go on vacation, and parental controls to filter out inappropriate websites. You also get good performance for the money, with the R6220 pushing more data than many comparably priced devices we've tested.

Amped Wireless RTA2600 Athena

$230.00

The best router for gaming.

This router looks like an object from some space shooter, but that’s not why we recommend the Amped Wireless RTA2600 Athena to gamers. We chose it because this router is extremely customizable, allowing you to customize it to maximize your online gaming experience. Athena's proprietary beamforming technology adapts network distribution to please each of its customers, and our testing showed that the router was able to cope with video and music streaming on many devices simultaneously, while other computers were quietly exchanging data with each other . Even in a crowded Wi-Fi environment, this router will work without a hitch and won't freeze just when you're just about to take that deadly shot.

What the owners say: Half of the user reviews on Amazon have a five-star rating. That being said, the RTA2600 is praised for its performance and range.

Google Onhub

$200.00

The best router for a large home.

This wireless router will fit right into any home thanks to its very unrouter-like tower design topped with an LED ring. But the most important role is played by what is inside it, namely, 13 antennas arranged in an array in a circle. This will help you stay connected throughout your entire home—even those with many walls that could potentially block the signal. Add to that the potential of an unused speaker and a USB port, and you have a solid router that has room to grow, if only Google can show the ability to use every aspect of this device.

What the owners say: Users who have left reviews on Amazon's website have raved about the router's range and ease of installation, even if some think the price tag is a little high.

Linksys WRT1900AC

$180.00

The best router for experienced users.

The simply amazing WRT1900 router makes installing open source firmware like DD-WRT a real pleasure for the experienced user. In addition, it also offers powerful bandwidth over distance. This router, under the hood of which hides an ARM processor with a frequency of 1.2 GHz, 128 megabytes of flash memory and 256 gigabytes of DDR3 RAM, is also one of the most powerful routers on the market.

Note: Linksys just recently introduced the WRT1900 ACS, and we can't wait to see how its faster processor makes a difference.

What users say: More than half of the user reviews left on the Yandex-Market website have a five-star rating. Users rave about its performance, although some find its fan to be a bit noisy - a flaw that the WRT1900 ACS, which comes without a fan, may well correct.

What do you think is the best Wi-Fi router for home in 2016? Leave your comments below, it will be very interesting to hear your point of view!